When I first heard the news of the recent elections, my heart was overcome with a sense of sadness that Goldenvale was yet again in the center of controversy. It seems to me that something like this happens every year. I've never heard of this happening in any of the other kingdoms, and if it does, not to this extent, not as bad, and not receiving this much attention. I have become all too familiar with my home kingdom being referred to as "the problem kingdom" by other Amtgard members.

Being active duty military we have a few acronyms for situations like this. When things started out it was a SNAFU (situation normal all f%^&^d up), it rapidly became a TARFU (things are really f$%^%d up), then it went into a FUBAR (f^&%^d up beyond all recognition). But then this whole beautiful mess charged straight into territory that I have absolutely no acronym for.

It is a credit to King Goliath that he acted decisively and quickly to correct the mistake that happened, and to admit that he had erred. It takes a lot for anyone to admit they made a mistake and fix the problem, and hopefully the rest of his reign will not be tainted for this oversight. I encourage the rest of the citizens of Goldenvale to forgive King Goliath and let this be just a footnote in the history of Goldenvale and a lesson to us all in how to conduct ourselves in similiar situations. Forgive him and forget what has happened, for he has conducted himself as a king, and he is OUR king.

I would also like to congratulate Dame Willow for her appointment as champion of our kingdom, a position that she earned. She suffered through a series of personal attacks on some of the Goldenvale lists over this situation, but never once did she stoop to the level of those individuals and return fire. She continued to conduct herself with the dignity, honour and grace that a knight should carry themselves with and then forgave King Goliath for his oversight. If I knew nothing else about her, this would be enough to earn my respect, which it has.

Now that this controversy is resolved and behind us, let us consider this a lesson learned and look forward to the remainder of King Goliath's reign.